Ken at Ludington Dunes

No, young Ken is not about to take a skinny dip for if you look closely his swimsuit is tan or light brown. His legs almost obscure it totally. A lot of the boys from the Marion YMCA were leaping off the sand dunes just off of M-116.

This seven mile stretch between Ludington and the Hamlin Dam is chock full of sand dunes on each side of M-116.  On the western side of the road is also Lake Michigan and the distance from road to lake is no more than fifty yards.  Thus the dunes are just a few feet from the lake. 

Ken’s dune, however, was just on the east side of M-116 which contains dunes and scrub forest seemingly for miles on end.  Going barefoot in that area is the norm.  Ken especially liked to find jump-off points and then take a flying leap.  He seemed almost tireless in his efforts to find such dunes and they were found in abundance.

After a fun time on the dunes the boys turned their attention to Lake Michigan for a refreshing swim before heading to a special lunch at the Ludington A & W.  Not a bad day!

M-116 Sand Dunes

What I like best about the large area of sand dunes between Ludington and its State Park is the wide variety of dunes that can be explored. Some come complete with large areas of trees while others are just dunes. I always come prepared with one of my two husky dogs, Frick or Frack, a compass, canteen, and some beef jerky. If I jog without a human companion my wife just calls me jerky.

I like to run up and down the dunes to strengthen my leg muscles.  I’ve heard that members of the Detroit Lions do much the same thing in the off-season.  Going uphill is the best exercise I could give my legs.  Yet I also enjoy my times of pure hiking as I set a good pace for my heart. 

Then in the summer I take an occasional dip into Lake Michigan to cool off.  And, in the winter, that fine sand often become biting as the wind literally picks it up and blows it all over the place.  Thus the M-116 Dunes are a year-long project for me.  Darlene loves to take photographs of them and I like to jog or hike them.  To each their own.  Well, it’s about time for me to leave the house for another jog at those dunes so see you next time I come a posting.

M-116 Private Beach

Who could resist this location to swim? You can actually see the pavement of M-116 here and observe how close the road is between it and Lake Michigan.  Along this route are many small sand dunes with parking spaces alongside M-116 where you can park your car and have your own private beach.  Between Ludington and the Hamlin Dam there is about nine miles of beachfront to choose from.

Of course, at these locations you are swimming at your own risk so I would advise you to have a few companions along with you.  Just to be on the safe side.  My wife loves to take pictures and anywhere along this stretch of highway you can capture some beauties.  Just over M-116 the other way are miles of sand dunes and scrub forest land. 

But enough talk!  It’s time for me to take a refreshing dip in Lake Michigan and those waves are beckoning me forward.

The “Mountain” Outside of Ludington

I’ve often been intrigued by this “mountain” just outside the city limits of Ludington. It’s found just across the Lincoln River Bridge on M-116 about a mile out-of-town.   And, a mountain it is!  I’ve wondered how these folks do in the winter months as to going up and down that monster?

When you’re driving toward Ludington State Park on M-116 it’s just off to your left as you head north.  It’s impressive to say the least but you wouldn’t find me living up there on a bet.  I’ve always wanted to get a photograph of this place but until now have not done so. 

To me it provides Ludington with another conversation piece.  It stands so stately out there that you just have to be impressed with it.  But from afar.  Again, I would hate to have to drive up and down that mountain in bad weather months. 

So besides ferry boats, lighthouses, and great beaches, Ludington now also has a mountain.  It makes me wonder if there are any old goats up there?

M-116 Alert! Watch Out For Drifting Sand!

Just outside Ludington, on M 116, you won’t find many high water or snow driven signs on the roadway but you will find these signs about drifting sand.  The reason why is simple and that is because for about a six mile stretch, there is nothing but this highway amd ,miles and miles of sand.  Just one dune to your left separates you and Lake Michigan while the other side has hundreds o acres of dunes and shrubs.

So on high wind days, when the breezes whip Lake Michigan into a frenzy, sand  also comes ashore and pelts this highway.  To my knowledge, it has never drifted over but it does get rather interesting.  Worse still, if you plan on running the beach on those days, you will get a faceful of stinging sand.  Even so, it is one of the best drives in the area as just about anywhere you park, that stretch of the road becomes your own private beach.

Just a word of caution, though, watch out for that drifiting sand and be careful out there, eh?

Michigan Highway 116

M-116 begins in Ludington at the intersection of William Street and Ludington Avenue. It is at this intersection where US 10 turns southward and heads to the Ludington-Manitowoc ferry docks. From here, M-116 continues westward along Ludington Avenue for about one-half mile before turning north on Lakeshore Drive. The road continues as North Lakeshore Drive until passing the Lincoln Hills Golf Club where it curves westward towards the lakeshore as it approaches the park. The route runs along the coast of Lake Michigan for the remainder of its route, through sand dunes, until reaching its northern terminus at the entrance to Ludington State Park.

Ludington State Park is bound to the west by Lake Michigan, the north by sand dunes and to the east by Hamlin Lake. As such, M-116 provides the only road access to the park from the south. The park encompasses 5,300 acres  and is home to several types of ecosystems such as forests and sand dunes as well as Lake Michigan, Big Sable River and Hamlin Lake.  M-116 was first designated on June 28, 1928, from the north city limit of Ludington north to the Sable River, but not all of it was built and open to traffic. It was extended southerly on July 15, 1931, into the city of Ludington to US 10. There was a new alignment closer to the lakeshore opened on March 14, 1933. Later that year on July12,, the original, unbuilt routing was cancelled. The northern end was extended on October 31, 1935, to encompass the Big Sable River bridge opened in 1934.

In all, M-116 encodmpasses 7.1 miles with the largest section along the prestine beaches of Lake Michigan.  Parking spaces are designated for having your own private beach at several junction points along the highway.